COTABATO CITY – Two individuals who claimed to be field commanders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) were arrested in separate entrapment operations by the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (CIDG-BARMM) for selling firearms in Marawi City on Monday afternoon.
The suspects, identified as Shawi Ibrahim, 49, and Johaiver Banto Ariong, 32, were caught in gun buy-bust operations set by CIDG operatives near a hospital and inside a university compound.
Lt. Col. Ariel Huesca, CIDG-BARMM chief, confirmed in a statement Tuesday that the arrests took place at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively.
Ibrahim, who claimed to be the deputy commander of the MILF 102nd base command in Marawi City, was the first to be apprehended after selling a rifle and a pistol to an undercover agent at the parking lot of a private hospital in Barangay Poblacion.
“Ibrahim did not resist but appeared shocked by the turn of events,” Huesca said.
An hour later, Ariong, who claimed to be a battalion commander of the MILF 125th base command, was arrested after selling an M16 rifle and a .45-caliber pistol to a disguised police officer inside the Mindanao State University (MSU) Marawi compound.
Both suspects are currently detained at the CIDG facility in Marawi City and will face charges for violating Republic Act 10591, the “Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act.” (PNA)